Sunil Gavaskar exclusive full text: 'Australia series to decide future of seniors'

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in an exclusive conversation with India Today, dissected India's series loss against New Zealand and the spoke about the future of senior players.

In Short

• Sunil Gavaskar calls New Zealand series loss a new low
• Gavaskar dissects India's woes against spin bowling
• He also shares his prediction for upcoming Australia tour

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in an exclusive conversation with India Today dissected India’s 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand on home soil. The Rohit Sharma-led side faced a shambolic 0-3 series loss for the first time in their Test history which has posed several questions on the current lot of players and the team management.

Reflecting on India’s loss, Gavaskar delved deep into the technical shortcomings of the Indian batters, future of batting stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and also shared his prediction for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. Here’s the full excerpt from the interview:

Is this a new low for the Indian team?

“It is a new low because of the way this Indian cricket team has been performing at home over the last so many years. Over the last so many years they have come back from behind. They’ve won matches against England and Australia, who have always been thought of as being even better and sterner opponents than what New Zealand could be. And that is the reason why, you know, this was totally unexpected, against Australia against England, one could have said, yeah, they've got, they've got the team, they've got the players. But against this New Zealand team, therefore, it was not expected that India would lose all three test matches,” said Gavaskar.

Collective failure of batting brought the downfall

“I think it's a failure of the batting. Everybody, you know, literally, I think, struggled with the bat on pitches where there was help for the bowlers. So I think that was probably the main reason the batters didn't score enough runs, particularly in Pune and in Mumbai,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Impact of white-ball cricket on Test batting

“Yes, I think it’s been a situation ever since the White ball game has come in. The white ball game encourages batters to play with hard hands, where you're looking to push at the ball to get the ball away. Now on pitches where the ball is doing something, whether it is seam swing turn, I think you need to be playing with at least one soft hand, if not two soft hands. And therefore you know that bat speed, which can be then controlled, where the edges, which are now going to the slip fielders would fall just a little short if you played with soft hands. So it's the bat speed that has been the cause, because India is now playing a lot more of the white ball game than test matches,” he added.

Need to use the feet effectively vs spinners

“Yes step out and get to the pitch of the ball and drive. I know Ian Chappell used to say the sweep is played by batters, the regular orthodox sweep is played by batters who who can't use their feet. And it’s just like, you know, get out of jail kind of shot if it comes out great. If it doesn't come out, you’re, you know, backpack in the pavilion. So, while the reverse sweep was not very much in fashion during our time when it is played well, I think it is one of the finest shots that one can see. I really love watching the reverse sweep being played by being played properly. You know, whether it's hit in the air and into the stands or the way they control it with the, you know, with the wrist over it when it's executed. Well, it's one of the most beautiful shots in the game now,” the legendary batter said.

Problem more in the mind than technique?

“Definitely more, more, more a problem of temperament because the temperament now is that and that is again a white ball legacy. Is there two or three dot balls? We've got to go and try and impose ourselves on the on the bowlers. So go for a big shot, go for an aerial shot if it comes off great. But where the ball is doing something, then these chances are a lot less. In white ball cricket, the white ball itself doesn't really, you know, swing, seam, or even spin as much as the red ball does. It's got to do with the seam (stitching) and which is the reason why it's a lot easier to get away with all these shots in white ball while in the red ball, unless you're right on top of the ball or right under the ball, you're gonna struggle. So while the technique is there, it's a temperament is a thinking that I can do this by because the boundaries are shot. The bats are so good, guys are all strong as well, so we can get it into the stands,” said Gavaskar, who was the first player to score 10000 runs in Test cricket.

Should the captain and the coach be blamed?

“Well, I think, when a loss happens, then obviously you look, you know, as everything. You know, you look at where the buck stops and the buck has to stop with the with the captain and the coach more than anything else. But it's early days for the coach. What I think is that, while the results speak for themselves because for the first time, we lost in Sri Lanka as well. And now this, you know, lost to New Zealand. Unless things improve in Australia, questions will definitely be asked and harder questions than what you are asking now,” said the 1983 world cup winner.

Australia tour to decide future of senior players

“I think it could be a tour which could decide a lot of futures. And I'm hoping that that question, you know, solved itself in Australia because they are, at at an age and at a stage in their careers, where there will be a second ring of which we will be looking to get an opportunity,” said Gavaskar.

Nothing wrong technically with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

“No, I don't think there's anything wrong, technically with both of them. I think,, they all, you know, got some great deliveries, a couple of shots that Rohit Sharma played, but probably not really on at that stage. But the Australian pitchers are very good pitches to bat on after the 1st 10-12 overs are done with the Kookaburra ball, which hardly will move after they say, maybe 12 overs or so. These pitches will be beautiful to bat on, so it's a matter of just showing a little bit of patience, a little bit of common sense, and they'll be back in the runs again,” he said.

How should Kohli and Rohit prepare for Australia?

“I think you need to get the flow right and particularly in your mid-thirties, you you got to be getting that bat speed the flow, everything right? So rather than relax, more, practice more matches is probably the answer,” said Gavaskar.

Do you see any major changes happening?

“I don't see any major change happening. I think the major change could like I said, could happen after the tour of Australia. And that too, if we don't do well. But otherwise this team has brought glory to the to the country, as early as this year against England when they came back after a defeat in the first test and won the next four test matches. So yes, this has been a bad series. This has been a bad dream. So I'm still very optimistic about this team. I'm still saying that we have to back this team because this is our team and we have to give them all the support so that they go to Australia in a better frame of mind and I can come back with a win, which is for the World Test Championship final,” he said.

What are your predictions for the Australia series?

“My prediction before this, New Zealand series was that India would win 3-1. But, now, my prediction is probably a little less optimistic. I think India will probably win 2-1. India to win 2-1 in Australia after losing 3-0 to New Zealand at home.